Ships log  #5

YEH – got a sleep in this morning !!  well sort of – after at least 4 other alarms went off at various times in my cabin their owners either getting up to go for a run before the sun got too hot – crazy people – or heading off for early breakfast before going to join an orphanage visit to help out or to other Mercy ministry (but more about that in another post - then finally mine at 8.30am so that I could get to breakfast by 9am – I am so institutionalized!!  But I also had my laundry slot at 10am so plenty of time to enjoy a quiet coffee in the lounge and read a UK gossip mag (yes we do have them here if someone was kind enough to bring them from home).  It was actually a welcome quiet time as lots of people have gone ashore to the market also this morning (Saturday).   I am on call today so need to stay ship bound but will head off to a local island tomorrow for some R+R and some body surfing J

Now just a few more pics from last weekend of roadside stalls full of local fruits and produce…. pineapples, mangoes, apples, coconuts, limes, oranges, figs, sweet grapefruit, unknown green leaves, cashew and peanuts, also papaya and watermelon just to name a few .  We are enjoying most of these fruits in the dining room and they all seem sweeter and larger than anything we would usually have at home …

Here is me enjoying a mango….  (photo to come)

 

…and the most yummy chewy omelet filled baguette I have ever had ….the bread was straight out of the oven !!

We ate at simple restaurants …

…serving meals in 1000’s of Guinea francs…

10,500 GF = US$1.50 (apprx NZ$1.80)

... usually with an interesting roadside outlook…

… and which included passing cars in transit to unknown destinations with live chickens atop the roof !!

Now more about mangoes… I saw a young boy (?8 yr)harvesting mangoes with a long bamboo pole with a knife attached to the end.  Here he is carrying the pole (adjacent to the house) which I would estimate to be 10m long…

…and here he is harvesting the mangoes with the pole reaching way up into the tree ( I would suggest magnifying your page to see how high up the pole is) …

.. and once again mangoes dripping from the tree !!

On arriving in Kindia township we visited one of the big markets which sold everything imaginaeable and edible !!  It was a truly crazy place with every piece of spare ground covered with wares or people – both sellers and buyers  - and then a car would try and drive thru - while much honking and shouting ensued  !!

…and much to our relief we found the material stalls with every pattern and colour available.

I also noticed some slightly dodgy scaffold and support structure which would make many a builder crinch with anticipation of an ACC claim.  This was however common place and to be found on substantial apartment blocks under construction.

And the final treat of the weekend was the visit to the Institute de Venemology !!

 This rambling array of mostly disused buildings was built probably around 1960 and was planned to house an exotic zoo.  It is now just home to several crazed monkeys , two very docile crocadiles, and multiple snakes !!

Beyond the left hand door there were dozens of preserved serpentines…

…latin names included..

 …but beyond the right hand door thee were the live ones !!  There were at least 3 cobras which the watchful guardians happily woke up for us with a brush of their brush on the cage…

…some beautiful skinny green ones… 

…and other random types, one of which insisted on hissing at us !!

 And such is life in wonderful west Africa – but today involves doing my washing  (YEH) then coffee break at Starbucks (Yes indeed – the only one in west Africa due to ist support of mercy Ships).  Have a great day to all my wonderful friends and family in NZ and around the world xox

Ships log # 4

Well so sorry folks for being tardy in getting the next post up on my blog site !!  I am blown away by the numbers of people who are reading it and sending me emails of encouragement – thank you.

The week has flown by with continuous surgery during the day and “community’ events in the evening – there is always something going on around here to keep one from being bored or think that you want to have your own quiet time or an early night – we celebrated Dutch Queen’s day and the new Dutch monarchy earlier in the week with orange balloons all over the ship and flowers to all the Dutch ladies (or those related to Dutch gentlemen !!) – the Wednesday medical inservice night had the current Australian general surgeon talk about goitre disease in west Africa and thryroidectomy – and Monday evening saw a full community global hitch up discussion with head office in Texas to discuss future events happening in the organization.

But back to last weekend – I had an amazingly insightful couple of days going up country with 3 other women from the ship – Lea (German), Camille (French Suisse) and Bianca (USA) – we hired a driver (alias tour guide) and drove about 4hr (often the trip takes up to 8 hr) up to Kindia, via Coyah, bumping along and avoiding pot hole filled roads, trucks, people, road side stalls, sheep, and motor bikes driving on the wrong side of the road.  That’s not to say we didn’t at times because it may have been the better route (?).  



On the whole roads were either dirt … or rugged tarseal a little rough on the sides but allowing for passing opportunites at short  notice !!

We planned to see a picturesque bridal veil waterfall (Voile de mairee), swim in some mountain pools (Eaux de Killisi), and eat plenty of mangoes and go for a wee hike (??).

 

I’ll start with the hike – we skipped over rocks (not me) the mountain in the far distance is where we headed to …and scampered up (some vertical) hillsides with me in the rear…   

 

– but the tortoise always gets there eventually) for over an hour up Mt Gangan thru a village which has vast views over the lower plans.  And after a circuitous route (over 3hr worth), nearly 40 deg C heat and under an intense African clear and sunny sky we finally made it back – do I look relieved and tired ?

The village mirrored many traditional villages that we saw en route from Conakry – with thatched mud huts, with some cement reinforced corrugated iron roofed huts, and evidence of very basic cooking and living facilities.  The villagers were understandably camera shy but I was able to record some sights that provide evidence of the meager lifestyle they live…

…and I must say whatever was cooking smelt pretty good …

Carrying babes on backs and everything (!!) on your head is a necessary activity for young and old and starts very young with us seeing some as young as 5 or 6 years old carrying small pales of water or supplies.

…and the animals they keep - wasn't quite sure whether they were sheep or goats (?)

The water supply for village came from a tiny mountain stream which has almost completely dried up because the rainy season hasn’t come quite yet…

... and the land around is fairly barren except for a few random trees and numerous mango trees…

(note the unripe mangoes dripping off the tree in the foreground)

 …and stacks of drying mud bricks – these appeared to be purely made from mud from the rich multi coloured earth.

We visited le Voile de mariee the next morning …

…and then went for a well earned drenching in one of the pools of the Eaux (waters) of kalissi…

..after first navigating a very rickety bridge !!

Here are my 3 girlfriends who provided me with much entertainment and hilarity as we tried to translate for each other.  Quite a feat when there was German, French and English and American (!?) as first languages and French, German and English as 2^nd languages !! – work that one out – even I had to translate three ways at one point !!

L – R : Lea, Bianca, Camille

I have still so much to tell about this trip and this week that I will post this one and start again tomorrow as the internet is getting slower by the minute

Bon nuit to all xo

Ships log # 3 - ANZAC day

What a week it has been !! Every surgical operation that I have been part of has been nothing like I have seen before and all have had unusual circumstances surrounding their need for surgery – for most  it is many years past the age and stage that they would routinely have been operated on and for many the condition is not usually found in western countries.  Quite fascinating and such stimulating work to be involved in – for these people of Guinea it is literally a life saver as many are suffering major eating difficulties due to their facial disease, cleft palate, or enlarged goiter.  Many have some airway obstruction and or have huge disfigurement.  One can only feel tremendous relief for them that the services of Mercy Ships have been made available to them as their home country is unable to do this.

Now I guess it was going to happen at some stage but I have officially become an OR nurse ……

- as opposed to an operating theatre nurse – and am rapidly getting an American twang to my words and having to remember different words for the same thing,  eg artery clip is a “haemostat”  !!

But an operating theatre is an operating theatre……

…and for those doubters - I am not still on holiday but am actually working !!

Best practice here also has a slightly different meaning in some aspects of practice but only to do with the limited room, supplies and disposal and processing procedures.  Fundamentally I am accepting of common practice here but you know me….. J

 Spent last night with most of the 25 NZers and Auzzis on board celebrating ANZAC day – correctly done so with pavlova - we didn’t argue over who invented it - and ANZA biscuits which they (the Auzzis) didn’t lay claim to.

(note the mango on the pav at the back of the table which is a common fruit for most meals – yum, yum)

We managed to relocate the appropriate flags from the common room ….

….and magnate them to the ship (I must say I have never heard of so many good uses for magnates) when EVERYTHING is metal  !!  eg hooks on ceilings in the OR – with no blutack or sticky tape in site J

 

                                                                   ...and for once I wasn’t the shorty in the front row.

I am away up country to a place called Kindia tomorrow overnight which is in the highlands and has some beautiful waterfalls apparently - lots of people head that way or similar just to have a break from the heat in Conakry but I am finding it mainly OK in the ship with air con.   A sun hat is essential when going ashore and you can also burn really easily, which is probably a combination of the malaria pills and the intense African sun. 

Well think that’s about it for today – need to head off to bed before 6am start tomorrow – bonsoir mon ami J

Ships log # 2

After yet another solid night’s sleep (no doubt due to either the hum of the air conditioning or the sea air) I was up according to the ships timetable to have breakfast and make my lunch (only in the wkends) and then we were off for a half hour walk to the HOPE centre for patients and their families either waiting for surgery or having had surgery.  These patients need nursing and nutritional care that could not be provided for in their home environment and they might stay there for several weeks.  I played with some of the smaller children using board games and animal dominoes. My limited French came in very useful and I was able to communicate with one six year old girl effectively and even persuaded her to let her younger brother participate as well !!  My French lesson this afternoon, however, involved finding out more animal names and revising names for colours.  But I was able to teach her numbers beyond 10 – sacre bleu !! I also interacted successfully with a 10 year old boy and we discussed what was in my backpack.  He even reminded me to close it before I walked back along the road.  How very perceptive he was and how clever of me to understand what he said J  I immensely enjoyed the morning   and we departed before their lunch was served vowing to go back next wkend.   I will endeavor to find some puzzles for them in a local shop before then as there were none at the centre and they rely on donation of equipment.  

 

This photo shows HOPE centre manager Sheryl Wells with some family members…

  

  ..and the centre is part of the Conakry main hospital building which is a sprawling construction with multiple wings and open air verandahs.

 

This photo taken of me on our return to the ship is on the dock beside the Africa Mercy with the gangplank to the right and the patient preoperative assessment tents to the left.   

There are eight decks to negotiate and I am rapidly becoming familiar with where everything is – I am also now very good at planning well in advance as one does not want go up and down the stairs too often J  But I will be very fit upon my departure I am sure.  I can’t believe how much at home I feel here ….and have had to take the role of cabin mother already !!

The days have quickly become a mixture of timetabled activities and reading, learning French, email checking (most grateful for all), blogging, swimming in the lap pool, checking what activities are coming up, putting my name down for said activities, and catching up with more new found friends.  I have already made plans for next wkend to visit some bush areas with waterfalls a few hours inland with an overnight stay.  But I must now concentrate on my first week of work which could be somewhat arduous after over 3wks since I last scrubbed up.

I would love to have more photos to put up at this point – and there have been many occasions when I would like to take some but taking them would feel like an intrusion on people’s lives.  The city is a hive of activity with children playing with small toys in the dirt, men playing soccer on a hastily made pitch which extended from one side of the pavement to the pavement on the other side of the road, mothers feeding babies sitting on wooden crates, stall holders hawking their wares, taxis tooting, loud diesel trucks being loud and issuing diesel smoke, and these are the typical street conditions …

Needless to say the 2^nd annual Guinea half marathon was still run today in 33 deg C heat and 85% humidity along these roads , police with machine guns blocking traffic at each intersection.  One of my fellow cabimates participated and did it in 2.5 hr and survived to tell the tale – I challenge my brother, Chris(of Taupo Iron Man fame), to do the same J

Well I think its bed time for me – up early tomorrow to start the reason why I intended to come here. I am so pleased to finally be here.  Also very pleased the rain has finally come to NZ – it is due here in a couple of months J

Ships log # 1

Where to start ….first impressions of Africa are of bare scorched earth and extremely meager dwellings with kids kicking a soccer ball on a bare pitch….such poverty I have only see in photos.  I am here to assist with surgery to improve the quality of lives of a lucky few people but there appears so much more that is needed to improve their lives ….and I have only had a brief glimpse of life here in Conakry during the drive from the airport to the port.

I was greeted at the airport by a very friendly local crew member and was carefully herded with 5 others off my flight from Brussels to waiting vehicles and driven directly to the ship.  But just to back track for a minute – I had a delightfully warm 24hrs prior in Brussels seeing the sights and practicing my basic French skills, and was pleasantly surprised as to how I got by with limited phrases which were said confidently and appropriately J  What fun seeing Europe again – it has been far too long but I digress…

The ship and its crew are a very friendly bunch that are constantly welcoming new people but it is genuine and I am feeling quite at home already in my 2m x 2m shared space which includes a top bunk (just knew that would happen) amongst  5  fellow cabin mates.  None of them are theatre nurses (dental assistant, preassessment nurse, lab technician, pharmacist, and occupational therapist), are from either the UK or US, are my age or half my age, but all are fabulous – I just know I am going to enjoy it here J

After a solid first night sleep I was up with the larks for breakfast served between 0630 and 0730 during the week – no slackers allowed – but served til 0900 in the weekends.  With a windowless cabin an alarm is a necessity otherwise I would happily sleep all day I am sure.  While my cabimates went off to work I filled the day with orientating myself to the essentials – library, hairdresser (already needed a haircut), swimming pool (very refreshing) and Starbucks coffee shop (yes it is essential).  By then it was time for lunch followed by my official orientation (I have never gone up and down so many stairs in one day), logging into the onboard computer system,  a look over the OR (operating theatre in plain English), and then it was time for dinner – you think its regimented around here  - well you are correct – I have my diary full with an event for everyday for the next week and have even booked a time in the laundry to do my washing in 3 days time !!  I can assure you that this is what makes this shipboard community run so smoothly and I have no complaints – I am the ultimate timetabler and love organisation – there is something to look forward to every day but still plenty of time to chill out with a good book with my I-pod plugged in.

I have not ventured off the ship but plan to do so in the morning.  Cabimate Jacqui and I are going to the HOPE (Hospital out patients enterprise) centre to see who needs assistance but more on that later …..thus my first view of Conakry form the ship…. 

… and the view to seaward….

Aurevoir til tomorrow from the Africa Mercy  J

Well the challenges have started already …… had to ditch half my belongings in Sydney after the airport weigh in scales were completely wrong !! (??)  They were at least 2kg over what they should be and absolutely no leniency to overweight cabin luggage!!  I don’t know what is the world coming to…..but better still my main suitcase was lost somewhere between Dubai and London.  Oh well never mind …. I don’t mind wearing somebody  else’s clothes… mideastern robes in Dubai and sister’s PJs in London J   Am very quickly becoming use to “less is better”  !!

During my first stop (Sydney) I was quickly rationalised into a smaller unit of living by my daughter (Clare), and it was a great spot to become accustomed to travelling away from my home turf and familiarities of life in NZ.  Second stop (Dubai) was a breath of fresh air where I explored the sights and sounds of this middle eastern country with good friend Jodie.  

Many photos of mosques and buildings (both old and new) later…

….much eating of curry and chilly…..

….deciding that being near to a camel was just as desirable as riding one….

 … that the desert could accommodate both the past and the present…

… and that it held a fascination all of its own.

…. But for those who know me very well I could not leave without buying some material – beautifully printed cotton lawn from Pakistan I believe – plus the haberdashery shops were to die for !!

Third stop (London) saw me (fortunately) navigating the underground with only a small backpack and a cabin bag (larger bag having been left in Dubai) to a welcome haven at sister Frances’ place.   Have been spending last few days exploring the local environment of Walthamstow with its century plus old terraced houses, quaint corner stores and double decker buses in abundance.

But the job of the week (til Wed anyway) is to repack for Africa and brush up on my French.  Having bought a French language phrase book in Sydney airport and “Lets learn French” CDs provided by my sister I have no excuse not to be able to “parlez une petite fransais” before arriving in Guinea.  I am surprised how much of it appears familiar after nearly 40yrs of not using that part of my brain.

So the journey begins – I am over the jet lag thanks to the homeopathic remedy provided by my mother (Felicity) – skyped family (including son Peter) for the last time for 8 weeks - and am rearing to go – can’t wait to scrub up and get used to life on board the Africa Mercy…. next blog posting on board ship…